Compressor



Jan. 11, 1944. B|X| ER 2,339,048

COMPRESSOR Filed Aug. 28, 1941 Fig.2.

Inventob:

by JV His Attorney.

Harley H. Bixlew,

Patented Jan. 11, 1944 COMPRESSOR Harley H. Bixler, Nlskayuna, N. Y., asslgnor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application August 28, 1941, Serial No. 408,612

7 Claims.

My invention relates to compressors.

It is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved compressor assembly minimizing pressure loss and piston clearance loss, occupying a minimum of space, comprising a minimum number of parts, and which is simple of assembly and rugged of construction.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a compressor illustrating the details of my invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded view showing the parts constituting the assembly shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating a detail of my invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a cylinder block In having a cylinder bore II. A piston I 2 for compressing a working fluid is suitably arranged for reciprocation in the bore,

The bore is closed by a. muille box l3 including an outer or supporting member or cylinder head [4 suitably secured to the cylinder block as by bolts l5 extending through openings [6 in the member [4 into threaded engagement with suitably tapped bores in the cylinder block.

On the bottom or under side or surface of the member hi there is provided a circular recess H, the bottom thereof being convex. An annular exhaust passage I8 is arranged adjacent the outer edge of the recess. I

I have provided a circular valve plate IS in the recess H. In order to provide a fluid-tight seal between the adjacent engaging walls of the member l4 and the valve plate l9, the valve plate is originally made slightly over sized, as two or three thousandths of an inch for example, and then forced into its assembled position. While I have shown a circuit recess and a circular valve plate, it will be obvious that the principles of my invention are equally applicable to any shape of recess and plate, so long as complementary parts are furnished.

In order to guide the valve plate during the press fitting assembly operation, the inner or leading edge of the valve plate may be reduced in size or chamfered, as indicated by the numeral 20 in Fig. 3.

In the illustrated form of my invention there is provided a plurality of exhaust ports 2| extending through the valve Plate, disposed in a ring or annularly about the center of the valve plate, and communicating between the cylinder bore and the exhaust passage formed by the cooperating upper surface of the valve plate, the

recess l1 and passage II. In order to close the passages during the intake stroke of the compressor, there is provided a disk valve 22, preferably of sheet metal, between the valve plate and the bottom wall of the recess. In order to maintain the valve plate, the member I! and the exhaust valve in properly aligned position or operative relationship, fastening means, as a rivet 23, may be passed through suitable openings in the aforementioned parts. It will now be clear that the bottom of the recess is made convex to act as a stop and guide for the valve 22, insuring gradual flexing thereof and thereby minimizing valve noise and breakage of the exhaust valve.

In order to conduct compressed fluid from the exhaust chamber, there is provided an outwardly extending passage or bore 24 in the member l4, communicating at the inner end thereof with the passage 18, the outer end being enlarged to receive the exhaust conduit 25.

A plurality of circularly disposed intake passages 26 is provided through the member M, the ports or passages being disposed concentrically with respect to the exhaust ports 2|.

In order to cover the intake ports during the exhaust stroke of the piston, there is provided an intake valve 21. As best shown in Fig. 2, the intake valve is substantially square with a relatively large centrally disposed circular opening 28 axially aligned with the cylinder and arranged to leave uncovered the exhaust passages 2|. The intake valve is conveniently retained about its periphery between the mufil box and the top of the cylinder block and properly aligned by providing holes 29 for the bolts I5. The intake valve is preferably of resilient sheet metal so that on the intake stroke of the piston the valve flexes downwardly at the edge of the opening to uncover the intake ports. The edge of the cylinder is preferably chamfered, as indicated by the numeral 3| to permit gradual flexing of the intake valve.

I have shown a generally disk-shaped curved or slightly dished element 32 snapped or pressfltted into a generally annular cut-away portion or groove 33 in the outwardly facing surface of the member M. The element 32 is convex outwardly and is disposed outwardly of the intake ports and cooperates with member 14 to form an intake muffler having a chamber 34 of relatively small vertical dimension. The element 32 may be of resilient material which may be forced to a circumference less than normal and expended into engagement with the outer wall of the groove or a cup-shaped element may be dropped into the groove or recess and forced downwardly to cause the edge thereof to move outwardly to engage the wall of the groove.

Fluid to be compressed is drawn into the mufiier chamber 34 through a conduit 35 and passage 36 in the member I 4, and from thence passes through the intake passages 28, which communicate with the muffler chamber 34 at their upper ends, into the cylinder bore II, the intake valve 21 flexing downwardly to uncover the intake ports. On the compression stroke; the increase in pressure moves the intake valve upwardly to close the intake ports, and compressed fluid is discharged through the exhaust ports 2| around the upwardly flexed exhaust valve 22 and out through the conduit 25.

The side face of the recess and the corresponding adjacent face of the valve plate is accurately machined, the valve plate being made slightly oversized. The leading edge of the valve plate is then chamfered. valve is inserted in the recess, the valve plate placed adjacent the recess and then forced thereinto. The mufller plate or member 32 may then be suitably inserted and secured.

The above described arrangement provides an assembly having a very small vertical dimension, thereby effecting a reduction in the overall dimensions of the compressor and intake muiller. Moreover, the valve plate when pressed in can be thinner than normally constructed because it is supported at the circumference by reason of the pressed fit at the edge and is supported at the center by the fastening means shown.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, I do not desire it to be limited to the particular construction shown and described and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I laim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a compressor, a member having a recess in a side thereof, a single valve plate in said recess, said recess and said valve plate being constructed to provide an exhaust chamber, said plate being originally slightly larger than said recess and pressed into assembled position with respect to said recess, the resulting fit being the only seal between adjacent walls of said recess and said plate.

2. In a compressor, a member having a recess in a side thereof, a single valve plate in said recess, said recess and said valve plate being constructed to provide an exhaust chamber, said plate being originally slightly larger than said recess and pressed into assembled position with respect to said recess, the resulting fit being the only seal between adjacent walls of said recess and said plate, the inner edge of said plate being reduced for guiding said plate during assembly.

3. In a compressor, a member having a. recess in a side thereof, a single valve plate in said recess, said recess and said valve plate being constructed to provide an exhaust chamber, an exhaust valve between said plate and the bottom of said recess, an exhaust passage through said plate adapted to be closed by said valve, said plate being originally slightly larger than said recess and pressed into assembled position with respect to said recess, and means for retaining said plate, said valve and said member in aligned relationship.

4. In a compressor, a cylinder having a cylinder bore, a member closing said bore, a plurality of annularly disposed intake ports through said member, a resilient metal intake valve having its,

periphery disposed between said cylinder and To assemble, the exhaust said member and having a relatively large centrally disposed opening axially aligned with respect to said cylinder for closing said intake ports, said member having a recess in its under surface, a valve plate in said recess, said plate being press fit in said recess, said plate and said member being arranged to provide an exhaust chamber, a plurality of annularly disposed exhaust ports through said plate and communicating with said chamber, a resilient metal disk valve between said plate and said member for closing said exhaust ports, means extending through said plate, said exhaust valve and said member centrally thereof for retaining the parts in operative relationship and for strengthening the assembly, said member having an exhaust passage communicating with said exhaust chamher.

5. In a compressor, a cylinder having a cylinder bore, a member closing said bore, a plurality of annularly disposed intake ports through said member, a resilient metal intake valve having its periphery disposed between said cylinder and said membemand having a relatively large centrally disposed opening axially aligned with respect to said cylinder for closing said intake ports, said member having a recess in its under surface, a valve plate in said recess, said plate being press fit in said recess, said plate and said member being arranged to provide an exhaust chamber, a plurality of annularly disposed exhaust ports through said plate and communicating with said chamber, a resilient metal disk valve between said plate and said member for closing said exhaust ports, means extending through said plate, said exhaust valve and said member centrally thereof for retaining the parts in operative relationship and for strengthening the assembly, said member having an exhaust passage communicating with said exhaust chamher, said member having a generally annular groove in its upper surface disposed outwardly of said intake ports, a dished element, the edge thereof engaging in said groove and cooperating with said member to form an intake muffler of relatively small vertical dimension, said member having an intake passage communicating with the interior of said muiiler.

6. In a compressor or the like having a cylinder, a cylinder bore and a member rigidly secured to said cylinder for closing said bore, said memher having a recess in its outwardly facing surface, a slightly dished element disposed in said recess for providing an intake muflier between said member and said element having a relatively small vertical dimension, means for conducting a fluid to be compressed to said chamber, and means for conducting said fluid from said chamber to said cylinder bore.

'7. In a compressor or the like having a cylinder, a cylinder bore, a member rigidly secured to said cylinder for closing said bore, said member having an intake passage extending therethrough, said member having a generally annular groove surrounding said intake passage on the outwardly facing surface thereof, and a dished element having its periphery engaging said groove and cooperating with said member to form an intake muiiler of relatively small vertical dimension, means for conducting to said mufiier, fluid to be compressed, and means for conducting said fluid from said intake passage to said cylinder bore.

HARLEY H. BIXLER. 

